Dr. Awani Bhushan | Best Researcher Award

Velllore Institute of Technology, University (Chennai Campus) | India

Dr. Awani Bhushan is an Assistant Professor (Senior Grade) in the School of Mechanical Engineering at Vellore Institute of Technology, Chennai, with an h-index of 6, 33 documents, and 113 citations. He earned his Ph.D. in Machine Design from the Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi, and holds prior degrees in machine and mechanical engineering. His research and teaching experience span nuclear engineering, solid mechanics, fracture mechanics, finite element analysis, and reliability assessment, combining analytical, experimental, and numerical approaches. He develops and validates computational models using ANSYS and COMSOL Multiphysics alongside custom FORTRAN and C++ implementations, and applies statistical Weibull-based methods for strength and size-effect characterization. His publications appear in Journal of Nuclear Materials, Journal of Testing and Evaluation, RSC Advances, and other peer-reviewed outlets. Key contributions include Weibull design criteria for nuclear graphite, fracture parameter correlation for unimodular and bimodular graphite, and studies on composites and functionally graded materials. He has secured research funding, filed patents, led collaborative proposals, and mentors students in interdisciplinary projects aimed at energy, defense, and structural-integrity applications. Overall, his work advances computational mechanics and material reliability with practical engineering impact and ongoing scholarly growth.

Profiles : Google Scholar | Scopus | Orcid

Featured Publications

Bhushan, A., & Panda, S. K. (2018). Experimental and computational correlation of fracture parameters KIc, JIc, and GIc for unimodular and bimodular graphite components. Journal of Nuclear Materials, 503, 205–225.

Kumar, H., Tengli, P. N., Mishra, V. K., Tripathi, P., Bhushan, A., & Mishra, P. K. (2017). The effect of reduced graphene oxide on the catalytic activity of Cu–Cr–O–TiO₂ to enhance the thermal decomposition rate of ammonium perchlorate: An efficient fuel oxidizer. RSC Advances, 7(58), 36594–36604.

Bhushan, A., Panda, S. K., Khan, D., Ojha, A., Chattopadhyay, K., & Kushwaha, H. S. (2016). Weibull effective volumes, surfaces, and strength scaling for cylindrical flexure specimens having bi-modularity. Journal of Testing and Evaluation, 44(5), 1978–1997.

Ram, S. C., Chattopadhyay, K., & Bhushan, A. (2023). A literature review on Al–Si alloy matrix based in situ Al–Mg₂Si FG-composites: Synthesis, microstructure features, and mechanical characteristics. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part C: Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science.

Suman, S., Yadav, A. M., Tomar, N., & Bhushan, A. (2020). Combustion characteristics and behaviour of agricultural biomass: A short review. Renewable Energy – Technologies and Applications.

Suman, S., Yadav, A. M., Bhushan, A., Bhaskara Rao, L., & Rajak, D. K. (2022). Substitution of coking coal with biochar for thermal and metallurgical utilisation. International Journal of Sustainable Energy, 41(11), 1778–1794.*

Dr. Patrick Arnaud Wandji Zoumb | Best Researcher Award

National Advanced School of Public Works | Cameroon

Dr. Patrick Arnaud Wandji Zoumb, Ph.D., is a distinguished researcher in civil and structural engineering, specializing in train–bridge interaction, structural dynamics, and machine learning applications for railway infrastructure. He earned his Ph.D. in Bridge and Tunnel Engineering from Southwest Jiaotong University, following a Master’s degree in Bridge and Tunnel Engineering from Wuhan University of Technology and a Bachelor’s in Public Works from the National Advanced School of Public Works. Dr. Zoumb currently serves as an Assistant at the National Advanced School of Public Works, where he contributes to teaching, research, and faculty development, focusing on railway design, structural design, fluid mechanics, and transportation infrastructure. His prior professional experience includes engineering roles in public works projects, providing expertise in bridge assessment, road safety, and infrastructure planning. With an h-index of 8, over 25 indexed publications, and more than 350 citations, his research is internationally recognized. His work integrates advanced computational methods such as Fourier regression, fuzzy random uncertainty, Kalman filters, and neural networks to investigate the dynamic behavior of train–bridge systems under wind, wave, and seismic loads. Dr. Zoumb is a recipient of the prestigious Arthur Wellington Prize (2023) awarded by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). His ongoing research continues to advance resilient, intelligent, and sustainable railway infrastructure systems.

Featured Publications

Zoumb, P. A. W., Bwemba, C., Mbessa, M., Moussus, T. W., & Kemta, L. P. (2025). Train-bridge interaction under correlated wind and rain using machine learning. Advances in Structural Engineering, 28(9).

Zoumb, P. A. W., Wang, M., & Kouame, A. R. (2025). Fourier series-based reliability analysis of train-bridge interaction under crosswind action using fuzzy random uncertainty. Structures, 81, 110148.

Li, X., & Zoumb, P. A. W. (2022). Extraction of the unknown hydrodynamic pressure from stochastic responses of the train-bridge system under wind and wave actions using iterative least square estimation and Kalman filter model. Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics, 231, 105202.

Zoumb, P. A. W., Li, X., & Wang, M. (2022). Effects of earthquake-induced hydrodynamic force on train–bridge interactions. Journal of Bridge Engineering.

Zoumb, P. A. W., & Li, X. (2022). Influence of earthquake-induced hydrodynamic pressure on train-bridge interactions based on back-propagation neural network. Advances in Structural Engineering.

Zoumb, P. A. W., et al. (2022). Fourier regression model predicting train-bridge interactions under wind and wave actions. Structure and Infrastructure Engineering.